Jeremiah 6:16-8:7 + Colossians 2:8-23 + Psalm 78:1-31 + Proverbs 24:26
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Old Testament - Today in Jeremiah chapter 6 verse 16 we read - "Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.” I love these verses! It reminds me that on a daily basis each of us is standing at a crossroads. A crossroads of where the world would have us go and where God would have us go. Too often I am afraid we take the worldly path and not the ancient path. "Ask where the good way is" - Do you do this in your life? How often? I think we can best do this through prayer. "Ask, and you shall receive" we have learned from Jesus. Do we ask Jesus in prayer where the good way is? Then, do we walk in it? And the reward for walking in it is - "you will find rest for your souls." I like this a lot! Who doesn't want rest for our souls? Is your soul at rest today? Why or why not? If your soul is not at rest, is it possible that you are walking along the wrong path? The worldly path? Will you seek instead the ancient paths? The good Way? Will you find rest for your soul?
Did you catch the 3 "If's" in Jeremiah 7:5-7? If, If, If... Here are the verses in this beautiful image below. Do you think there is any application on these 3 "If's" from these 3 verses in our lives today? How are we doing on these "If's" in our world today?
New Testament - Colossians chapter 2 verse 8 is a teaching from Paul that reminds me so much of our modern world today... "Don't let anyone lead you astray with empty philosophy and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the evil powers of this world, and not from Christ." Have you ever heard anyone in our world today offer you empty philosophy or high-sounding nonsense? I know I have... And perhaps I've even preached it on occasion in my past too. Scary stuff. There is stuff out there today that does indeed come from human thinking - not divine thinking - and from the evil powers of this world - not from Christ. I think we need to prayerfully be so vigilant to protect ourselves from these empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense. I almost hesitate to write this... but I am feeling like I should. I think we need to even watch out for empty philosophy and high-sounding nonsense in some churches today too. I really don't mean to be divisive to the body of Christ, the church, by saying this. But I say this for our own good - for brothers and sisters in Christ. One thing that I have seen in churches on occasion that has alarmed me is what I'll call "the cult of personality" around a pastor. Meaning, I think it can reach a point in a church where there is an unhealthy fixation on a pastor or minister. Don't get me wrong. We'll all probably have a favorite pastor or minister or priest. But let us be cautious if ever our devotion to a pastor surpasses (or gets anywhere near) our devotion to Jesus. It's then when the "cult of personality" can lead to empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense invading our hearts and minds. Maybe there is someone out there that needs to hear this... Just pray about it to Jesus if ever you feel that you are paying more attention to a pastor / priest / anybody than you are paying to Jesus. And ask Jesus what he would have you do. Perhaps it would be to move on to another church... A church where Jesus is clearly preached, worshiped, and followed. Trust me, there are multitudes of churches out there where Jesus and his work on the cross for your sins is preached. Make sure Christ and Him crucified is preached clearly at your church!
I absolutely love the imagery Paul uses in verse 11 today: "When you came to Christ, you were "circumcised," but not by a physical procedure. It was a spiritual procedure--the cutting away of your sinful nature." The cutting away of your sinful nature! Isn't that profound to think about? It almost makes me feel 100 pounds lighter spiritually just thinking about it... Our old sinful nature was an old beast of a thing that bogged us down. Makes us slow. Makes us groggy. Keeps us foggy. But - Jesus can take the scissors of spiritual circumcision and cut away that old sinful nature! Doesn't this make you feel 100 pounds lighter to think about this? Doesn't this thought of cutting away the sinful nature make you want to never want to put on that old musty moldy deadly suit of sin ever again? Let us be free instead! Has Jesus circumcised you spiritually? Has Jesus cut away your sinful nature once and for all? This all makes me think about butterfly coming out of its cocoon about to take flight... Let us fly!
Psalms - Psalm 78 verse 4 is a wonderful reminder that we have an important opportunity to disciple and teach others in the generation coming up behind us - "We will not hide these truths from our children but will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the LORD. We will tell of his power and the mighty miracles he did." Are you discipling or teaching someone about God's truth, deeds, and love? How are you helping the next generation learn about God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit?
Proverbs - We read an interesting Proverb in chapter 24 verse 26 today - "It is an honor to receive an honest reply." This is an interesting Proverb to me because it almost seems to be inferring that it is rare to receive an honest reply! It wouldn't really be an honor to receive an honest reply if that was standard operating procedure, would it? This is actually a bit frightening to think about - that perhaps many / most replies we receive are not honest? I think there is truth in this... I'll have to chew on it a bit more. I will say this - how about if you and I make it a practice to give honor to others in our lives by giving them an honest reply! Let us be truth-tellers!
Worship Video: Today's readings in Colossians reminded me of the Jeremy Camp song "Jesus Saves." Here is a great video KLOVE radio and its listeners put together, with signs sharing what Jesus saved them from. What has Jesus saved you from?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-dDZtm8yjM
Has Jesus Saved you? Click to be Saved!
Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: "See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ." Colossians 2:8 NIV
Prayer Point: Pray that no one has taken you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophies. Pray that no one ever will. Pray that you will only and always rely on Christ, and not upon human tradition and the principles of this world.
Comments from You: What verses or insights stand out to you from today's readings? Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!
Grace, love, peace, and joy!
Mike
p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Bible readings at this link.
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Jeremiah 6:16-8:7
I know I have stated this before but it’s worth repeating, the judgments, the rebuke, the warnings are all directed toward Judah and Jerusalem, not some “heathen” sinners, it is God’s people who are idolatrous. They go to the Temple to pray, to offer sacrifices, to worship, but what they are offering up to God is not what God is requires.
How often do I go to church, offer up a sacrifice of praise, raise my hands in worship but my heart is far from God. Going through the motions with a divided heart or a distracted heart is simply idol worship because we are not focused on God. Just because we stand in worship in church makes us no more a true worshiper then standing in a garage makes us a car. Does God have my heart or have I given it to some other in acts of idolatrous, adulterous worship?
Colossians 2:8-23
Mike asks us a question regarding our hearing vain philosophies and high-sounding nonsense. I work in a college so I can hear a multitude of ideas, philosophies and nonsense that passes itself off as wisdom. However, without the measuring rod of true wisdom, the Word of God, one can easily find oneself following the truly blind into the microwave oven. There are many voices in this world calling out for our attention, our money and our loyalty. Which voice will we submit too, the worlds’ or Christ’s
Psalm 78:1-31
It is good to rehearse in the hearing of our young the testimonies, past and present of God’s provision in Israel’s wilderness experience as well as our own. Not only does this teach the young about the ways of God but it also reminds the speaker of God’s faithfulness in the midst of trials.
So faith comes by hearing [what is told], and what is heard comes by the preaching [of the message that came from the lips] of Christ (the Messiah Himself).
(Rom 10:17 AMP).
Proverbs 24:26
I think it is an honor to receive an honest reply because this means the speaker values you so much as to tell you the truth no matter the cost to themselves. Honest replies are rare and rarer still is receiving a straightforward reply with graciousness and thanksgiving. After all, Jesus was persecuted because He spoke the Truth. No, in societies, past and present, honest replies are rare and devalued. . In fact Truth can get you killed, but Truth is the only thing that will stand when everything else fails and falls. Truth crushed to the ground will always rise.
The world’s motto should be, “Tell me a lie so I can feel good.”
Grace and peace,
Ramona
Posted by: Ramona | October 05, 2024 at 06:12 PM
The Jermiah passage highlighted contains a promise with conditions. IF you... THEN I. It is only when we meet the condition that can God then fulfill the promise. An example of this is
2 Chronicles 7
IF my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, THEN I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
Posted by: NAncy | October 06, 2024 at 03:36 PM
Be careful in the path you choose. Be careful you are not choosing worldly ways instead of aGodly way.
God's practices and ways are always better. Man says don't eat, don't touch, don't taste..but God will give you the right applications and guidance for living a righteous life.
A recap of the way it was..when God gave manna from heaven but they weren't satisfied or happy. God struck down the finest men..why is it so hard for man to listen and understand? It's so sad to see but our generations get hard hearted and stubborn and God will and does say no more..
Last but not least ..it is an honor to see an honest reply..Amen!
Posted by: Dee | October 07, 2024 at 03:52 PM